Scrubbing or buffing device

ABSTRACT

A device for scrubbing and/or buffing surfaces comprising an inner layer or pad of absorbent material having an open scrim covering which protects the absorbent material from wear and linting off during use and allows dirt and cleaning fluid to pass freely through the scrim covering for absorption by the absorbent material. The scrim covering may extend over one or both sides of the absorbent material, and may also be made in the form of a boot for placement around a conventional dust mop and the like.

'D United States Patent 1 3,761,991

Moss v 1 1 Oct. 2, 1973 [54] SCRUBBING OR BUFFING DEVICE 3,444,5795/1969 Thomford l5/11X 2,885,703 5/1959 1 Elliott 1 15/118 [761 lnvenw"Them" Moss; 3175 f 2,703,424 3/1955 Nicoli 15/228 x Rd., Shaker Heights,Ohio 44122 1 Filed! 1971 Primary ExaminerLeon G. Machlin [21] Appl' No:129,468 Attorney-Oberlin, Maky, Donnelly & Renner [52] U.S. Cl. 15/209R, 15/228, 15/230 1 1 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl A471 13/16 A device forScrubbing and/or buffing Surfaces [58] Field of Search 15/118, 228,104.94, prising an inner layer or pad ofabsorbem mamrial l5/lO4'93 229229 ing an open scrim covering which protects the absor- 220 R, 230, 219A, 229 AC, 229 AP, 161 bent material from wear and linting off duringuse and 50 allows dirt and cleaning fluid to pass freely through thescrim covering for absorption by the absorbent matel56] Reterences cuedrial. The scrim covering may extend over one or both UNITED STATESPATENTS sides of the absorbent material, and may also be made 2,983,9445/1961 Uselis 15/119 A in the form of a boot for placement around aconven- 3,629,896 12/1971 Sirnec [5/118 tional dust mop and the like.3,520,016 7/1970 Meitner.. 15/209 R 1,701,167 2/1929 Toplitz 15/229 R 9Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEIJnm 2191s 3.761.991 sum 1 u? 2INVENTOR.

7' HE RON V. M055 A TORNEYS PArcmmmzms 3.761.991

" SHEETEUFZ v I INVENTOR.

THERON V. MOSS ATTORNEYS SCRUBBING OR BUFFING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates generally as indicated to a In theannexed drawings: FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one form of scrubbingscrubbing or buffing device for use in cleaning carpet- 0r buffingdevice constructed in accordance ith hi ing and other surfaces.

An effective carpet cleaning device must provide sufficient agitation ofthe surface being cleaned to loosen the dirt and also have adequateabsorption capability to pick up or remove the loosened dirt andcleaning fluid 1 from the surface. Scrubbing brushes and the like may beused to loosen the dirt but cannot effectively pick the dirt up, whereasscrubbing pads made of absorbent material will effectively pick up thedirt if loosened but are not very effective in loosening the dirt.Scrubbing pads also have the disadvantage that they are relatively shortlived and subject to linting off onto the surface being cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, it is a principalobject of this invention to provide a scrubbing or buffing device whichhas a high capability for both loosening and picking up dirt fromsurfaces being cleaned.

Another object is to provide such a device which utilizes absorbentmaterial for dirt and fluid pick up and an open scrim covering over theabsorbent material for protecting the same against wear and linting off.The open scrim covering is also desirably somewhat abrasive and agitatesthe surface being cleaned to loosen the dirt.

Still another object is to provide such a device which remains in placeon the head of a square or rotary buff machine without the use ofsupplemental securing means.

Yet another object is to provide such a device which may be mounteddirectly on a conventional dust mop frame or used as a covering for aconventional dust mop to clean carpets and other surfaces.

These and other objects of the present invention may be achieved byproviding an open scrim covering over an inner layer or pad of absorbentmaterial to protect the absorbent material against linting off andexcessive wear and allow dirt and water or other cleaning fluid to passfreely through the scrim covering for absorption by the absorbentmaterial. The scrim covering is also desirably somewhat abrasive andagitates the surface being cleaned to assist in loosening the dirt. Bothsides of the absorbent material may be covered by the scrim material toallow either side to be put face down for scrubbing or buffing, and theother side will increase the grip between the pad and the head of eithera square or rotary buff machine. Various materials such as yarn, felt,and sponge-like materials may be used as the filler material, and thescrim covering may also be made in the form ofa boot for placementaround a conventional dust mop or the like if desired.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

invention having portions of the scrim covering broken away to show thefiller material therebeneath;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section through the device of FIG. 1,taken on the plane of the line 22 0 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section through a modified form ofscrubbing or buffing device utilizing looped yarn for the fillermaterial;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section through still another form ofscrubbing or buffing device in accordance with this invention utilizinga felt pad for the filler material;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section through yet another form ofscrubbing or buffing device in accordance with this invention utilizingsponge rubber for the filler material;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another form of scrubbing or buffing devicein accordance with this invention with portions broken way to'show theinterior thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic illustration showing the manner in whichthe bristles of a brush extend through the open scrim covering forsecuring the device to the head of a buff'machine;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of yet another form of scrubbing or buffingdevice in accordance with this invention provided with a pocket on oneside for attachment to a conventional mop frame; portions of the devicebeing broken away to show the interior thereof;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of still another form of scrubbing orbuffing device in accordance with this invention comprising a scrim bootplaced around a conventional dust mop, portions of the scrim boot beingbroken away to show the dust mop therebeneath; and

FIG. l0'is an isometric view showing the scrim boot of FIG. 9 by itself,portions of one side of the boot being broken away to show the otherside thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in detail to thedrawings and first initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown byway of example one form of scrubbing or buffing device 1 in accordancewith this invention comprising an inner layer 2 of absorbent materialhaving an open scrim covering 3 extending over both sides thereof. Theabsorbent filler material 2 may be retained between the outer scrimlayers 3 by binding the edges of the scrim material with nylon or cottontape 4 with stitching 5 running through the tape, and the outer scrimlayers 3 may also be stitched at 6 to the absorbent filler material 2 atsuitable spaced apart intervals across the width thereof as shown. Arelatively stiff cord 19 may also be placed around the outer peripheryof the device as shown in FIG. 2 to enhance the stiffness of the pad,helping to retain its shapewhen pushed into corners and the like.

Preferably, the scrim material is made of nylon, but it will be apparentthat other materials may also be used for the scrim covering, includingpolyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, and rayon. The scrim materialprovides a protective covering for the filler material, preventingexcessive wear and linting off of the filler material during use of thedevice, and the openings 7 therein also permit free passage of dirt andcleaning fluid such as water through the scrim covering for absorptionby the filler material. In the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the fillermaterial 2 desirably consists of a plurality of substantially parallelcords 8 of yarn. However, it will be apparent that the cords need not bearranged in parallel relation; nor is it necessary that the cords belaid flat as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, for example, in FIG. 3 thefiller material 2' is shown as comprising looped cords 9 interposedbetween the outer scrim coverings 3. Preferably, the looped cords 9 areon both sides of a fabric backing 10, but it will be apparent that theloops may be provided on only one side if desired, in which event thebacking for the loops may be one of the scrim coverings.

Moreover, materials other than yarn may also be used for the fillermaterial 2, including a felt pad 11 as shown in FIG. 4 or a sponge pad12 as shown in FIG. 5. The advantage in using a sponge pad is that itmay be made out of nylon or other suitable material which has a highabsorbency, capable of picking up and releasing water readily, and alsodries very quickly. In any event, the filler material, whether made ofyarn, felt, or sponge material, may be of any desired thickness, and thetype of material may also be varied to control the amount of absorptionby the filler material.

The shape of the device 1 may also be varied in accordance with thedesired use. In FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the device is shown as beingof a generally rectangular shape making it especially suitable for useon a square buff machine, whereas in FIG. 6 the device is shown as beingof a generally circular shape 13 for use with a rotary buff machine. Thedevice may also be made in other shapes as well such as the oval shape14 shown in FIG. 8.

Whether the device is used on a square or rotary buff machine, the scrimcovering 3 or 3' minimizes the friction between the device and carpet orother surface being scrubbed whereby the device will remain in positionon the machine due to the weight thereof without the need for additionalgripping means to retain the device in place. However, a brush may beleft on a rotary buff machine to more securely retain the device inplace due to the extension of the bristles 15 of the brush through theopenings 7' in the upper scrim covering 3 as schematically illustratedin FIG. 7, and other supplemental securing means may also be used asdesired, including the use of an abrasive pad between the driving discand scrim pad. The driving disc may also be provided with holes for flowof shampoo or other cleaning agent through the disc to and from thedevice through the openings 7 in the upper scrim covering 3'. Theopenings 7 in the scrim covering 3 on the other side of the device allowthe carpet fibers to extend partially into the device which aids inagitating the carpet to loosen dirt ground deeply therein, and the scrimcovering also has a slight abrasive action which aids in loosening dirtas well.

While the various devices shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 are provided with ascrim covering 3 or 3' on both sides of the filler material 2 or 2', itwill be apparent that the scrim covering need only be provided on oneside of the filler material, and the other side may either be exposed orcovered by a suitable fabric material 17 (see FIG. 8). Moreover,suitable means may also be provided on such other side for attachment ofthe device to a suitable support. Thus, for example, in the FIG. 8embodiment a fabric pocket 16 is provided on the other side of thedevice for receipt of a conventional dust mop frame, and ties 18 arealso provided for tying the device to the frame.

In FIG. 9 the device consists of a conventional dust mop 20 attached toa conventional dust mop frame 21 in the usual manner and having an openscrim covering in the form of a boot 22 shown more clearly in FIG. 10placed around the dust mop 20. One side of the open scrim covering hasan enlarged central opening therein to permit insertion and removal ofthe absorbent material from between the top and bottom layers of theopen scrim covering as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively. With thescrim boot 22 in place around the dust mop, the dust mop may be used toscrub carpet or other surfaces, after which the boot may be removed andthe mop used as a conventional dust mop as before.

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that the various forms ofscrubbing and/or buffing devices de' scribed above provide a very simpleand effective means for scrubbing and cleaning various surfaces andespecially carpeting by agitating the surface to loosen the dirt andabsorbing the dirt and cleaning fluid without linting off or causingexcessive wear of the device. The devices may also be made in variousshapes for use with different shaped holders, and they may be retainedin place on both square and rotary buff machines without the use ofsupplemental securing means. After the devices have become saturatedwith dirt, they may also readily be washed and wrung out on the job asrequired.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A device for scrubbing and/or buffing surfaces comprising a layer ofabsorbent material having an open scrim covering over at least one sideof said absorbent material, said absorbent material consisting of pluralcords of yarn, said open scrim covering protecting said cords againstexcessive wear and linting off and allowing dirt and cleaning fluid tofreely pass through the openings in said scrim covering for absorptionby said cords.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said cords of yarn are elongated anddisposed parallel to each other.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said cords are in the form of loops.

4. A device for scrubbing and/or buffing surfaces comprising a layer ofabsorbent material having open scrim coverings over both sides of saidabsorbent material, and means securing said opening scrim coveringstogether around their entire outer peripheries, one of said open scrimcoverings being provided with an enlarged central opening for insertionand removal of said absorbent material from between said open scrimcoverings.

5. A device for scrubbing and/or buffing surfaces comprising a layer ofabsorbent material having an open scrim covering over both sides of saidabsorbent material, a tape extending around the entire outer peripheryof said absorbent material and scrim covering binding the edges of saiddevice, and a relatively stiff cord also extending around the outerperiphery of said scrim covering and retained in place by said tape thusenhancing the stiffness of said device and helping to retain its shape.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said absorbent malar in shape for usewith a square buff machine. tenal m the form of a felt 9. The device ofclaim 5 which is generally circular 7. The device of claim 5 whereinsaid absorbent material is in the form of a sponge pad.

8. The device of claim 5 which is generally rectangu- 5 in shape for usewith a rotary buff machine.

1. A device for scrubbing and/or buffing surfaces comprising a layer ofabsorbent material having an open scrim covering over at least one sideof said absorbent material, said absorbent material consisting of pluralcords of yarn, said open scrim covering protecting said cords againstexcessive wear and linting off and allowing dirt and cleaning fluid tofreely pass through the openings in said scrim covering for absorptionby said cords.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said cords of yarn areelongated and disposed parallel to each other.
 3. The device of claim 1wherein said cords are in the form of loops.
 4. A device for scrubbingand/or buffing surfaces comprising a layer of absorbent material havingopen scrim coverings over both sides of said absorbent material, andmeans securing said opening scrim coverings together around their entireouter peripheries, one of said open scrim coverings being provided withan enlarged central opening for insertion and removal of said absorbentmaterial from between said open scrim coverings.
 5. A device forscrubbing and/or buffing surfaces comprising a layer of absorbentmaterial having an open scrim covering over both sides of said absorbentmaterial, a tape extending around the entire outer periphery of saidabsorbent material and scrim covering binding the edges of said device,and a relatively stiff cord also extending around the outer periphery ofsaid scrim covering and retained in place by said tape thus enhancingthe stiffness of said device and helping to retain its shape.
 6. Thedevice of claim 5 wherein said absorbent material is in the form of afelt pad.
 7. The device of claim 5 wherein said absorbent material is inthe form of a sponge pad.
 8. The device of claim 5 which is generallyrectangular in shape for use with a square buff machine.
 9. The deviceof claim 5 which is generally circular in shape for use with a rotarybuff machine.